Zippy's McCully is the most nostalgic place for me when I think of my food experience growing up in Honolulu, Hawaii.
My roots are held down deeply within 1/4 mile radius of Zippy's McCully. My grandfather was raised in McCully, the S King St and Pumehana/Algaroba area was his stomping grounds as a kid with Senator Daniel Inouye. My mother was raised in the McCully area and went to Washington Intermediate and McKinley high school. My grandmother (Issei, 1st generation) who married my grandfather (Nissei, 2nd generation) after meeting in Japan eventually moved back to Hawaii to raise my mom and uncle. Guess which area?? ... that's right, McCully. I lived in McCully 3 out of my 4 years of high school. And I have an aunt who works at Zippy's corporate headquarters, literally 65 steps from the restaurant I'm about to review. Sorry for my personal family history, but when I say this is the MOST NOSTALGIC food spot in Hawaii, I want you to understand where I'm coming from.
If you are a 1st timer, so that you don't ever write a bad review of Zippy's for their food, you have to try their classics, starting with what they're best known for... their chilli. I'm sorry if you're vegan or vegetarian because their Original Zippy's Chilli recipe does contain meat. That's probably one of the reasons it's so dang delicious!!
What I love about Zippy's as a company is they have not sold out!! They keep it local and from my sources I hear they plan to keep it only in Hawaii. My guess is the way they're able to never sell out is the fact that they sell over 115 tons of Zippy's Original Chill recipe through stores, retail markets and fundraising. This has to be one of Hawaii's top exports. You can find frozen Zippy's Chilli in stores in mainland cities with large Hawaii ties populations like Las Vegas, Seattle and Los Angeles metro area (specifically Gardena, CA).
Back to the chilli... the taste is distinct, yet most people who describe it say "Man, what is that ingredient? I can't put a finger on it." Some say they put peanut putter in their recipe. I stopped trying to crack their secret and just eat it when I have the chance. It is yummy... plain, with rice, on a hotdog, over chicken and dozens of other ways I'm sure it has been served and eaten. If you are a fan of chilli dogs, this would be the ultimate chilli to use, your first bite you would think you've died and gone to chilli dog heaven.
Other classics you cannot go wrong with: Fried chicken, Zip min with teri beef, Burrito and chilli over rice, chilli cheese fries, saimin and won ton min. Apple Napples (their famous apple turnovers) which you can purchase at their bakery called Napoleon Bakery, 4 steps left of their take out window. (by the way Napoleon is what I call the "can't go wrong bakery", it's not the best, but you can always count on their cakes and pies to be fresh and tasty when you're on the run and have to bring a dessert to a pot luck. Your dessert is always much appreciated.)
If you're a tourist and don't do your research, you might think Zippy's McCully is just a take out fast food place, with tables to eat your take out. Hidden in the back of the establishment is their sit down casual dining restaurant. This is a great place to experience the Kama'aina (local to Hawaii) experience. Their servers are almost always friendly, even at 3-4am when they're getting the young, drunk and obnoxious 16-23 year old clientele who are demanding, as they are having their late late night craving before heading home. If you want a great experience in the restaurant, go there between the hours of 8 am and 10 pm. At 8 am you'll catch the regulars (old timer aunties and uncles) sipping on coffee and eating portuguese sausage, eggs and rice talking about their hanabata days (childhood days) and wearing their 1960's Aloha shirts and mu'umu'u (hawaiian print) dresses.
PROS: OPEN 24/7, CHILLI AND APPLE NAPPLES, FAST FOOD OR SIT DOWN OPTION, FRIENDLY EMPLOYEES.
CONS: PARKING LOT CAN GET CROWDED NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS, NOT THE CLEANEST BATHROOMS, LITTLE ON THE PRICEY SIDE FOR TAKE OUT HAWAIIAN STYLE FOOD.
In closing my longest review to date, I highly recommend Zippy's McCully if you're in the Honolulu area, so at least you can say you visited an iconic and nostalgic food destination near and dear to the local people of Hawaii. Plus, their chilli rocks!!
Aloha Pumehana (warm greetings),
JC read more